UH-60 Blackhawk Recording 2016
This month I have been recording lots of helicopters. One of the helicopters I’ve enjoyed recording the most has been the Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk Helicopter. This machine is a reconditioned unit from the military and is the real deal. It has been updated and modified to be used as a heavy lift helicopter but it still has the traditional sound of the original military hardware. Here are some sights and sounds from this amazing sound effects recording adventure.
The Blackhawk came home from a month long job and I was kindly notified about it’s return but did not have much time to grab my gear and head to the local airfield. So, I showed up with my MKH8040ST and my SD-702 recorder to record the helicopters return. The following day I was allow to record ground tests at full throttle. I set up my AT-835ST far out in the grass next to the airfield. I set the MKH8040ST close up and then medium close during the test starts and power down sequences.
I used a Schoeps MK4-MK8 M/S for the medium distant perspectives and was hand held so I could be mobile. I also set a Sony PCM D100 inside the Blackhawk for the interior sounds. All went well except for a initial “microphone down” take at the beginning that render some takes slightly useless. Yes, the Go Pro went over once also from the rear rotor wind blast. They loaned me some sandbags to keep the microphones in place for the later takes.
When all was said and done I recorded six starts and stops with the Blackhawk on the ground. Fun day!
Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter Exterior Audio. VERY CLOSE UP. Recorded with a Sennheiser MKH-8040ST XY microphone set with a Rycote wind screen system to a Sound Devices SD-702 digital recorder at 24-Bit/96kHz.
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Interior Audio-Video demonstration. Recorded with a Sony PCM D-100 digital recorder at 24-Bit/96kHz. Video recorded with a Go-Pro Hero 4.
Special thanks to Brian and Ammy from Timberline Helicopters Inc. Date: July 1, 2016.
Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter Exterior Audio. Medium close perspective. Recorded with a Schoeps MK4 + MK8 Mid-Side microphone set with a Rycote wind screen system to a Sound Devices SD-702 digital recorder at 24-Bit/96kHz.
On June 30th, 2016 I had the honor of Recording the UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter as it returned home from a month long something or other. Here it is passing by. I recorded the sound with a Sennheiser MKH-8040ST XY microphone rig.
All images and sounds Copyright 2016 Frank Bry – Creative Sound Design, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
I decided to get into sound designing a few years ago I’m really into creating “Dynamic”, “Warm” sounds effects that really reach and touch you (if you can understand what I’m saying). I like to dig in and really pay attention to the sound image as well, I’ve been gaining a lot of insight from reading your blog and watching your videos. I read your recording setups and pay close attention to your microphones perspectives and it gives me “Sound Imaging” and “Dynamics” inspiration. Everything is really insightful.